I’d like to build a plugin that helps learning a foreign language by reading texts, for example a book in pdf format, in that foreign language. The plugin should:
allow highliting and selection of words and phrases
create notes with those words and phrases, and using AI, translate it, breakdown the vocab and grammar, explain, give other examples
connect the notes created to other notes in the vault that relate and link to other places in the same pdf file or other files in the vault that are related
generate a tally of the words, grammar and expressions that one has checked and where in the vault I’ve used them before, to track what one has read before
use other existing tools, like other plugins such as pdf++ and external resources such as online dictionaries and thesaurus
create relatable content to the words and phrases one has highlited in order to help create a relation with the new material with already existing material online
allow creating a curriculum to help one get prepared for an exam for example
I’m not a tech person, but would love to be part of a small team and help create such a plugin.
Thanks!
You’ve provided excellent information on developing a language learning plugin for interactive PDF texts. After researching the topic, I found that your insights are spot-on. For anyone seeking more details, I recommend checking out the Wikipedia article on learning Language.
This is something I’m very interested in! I love language learning but am terrible at memorizing vocabulary, and have already been looking at some of the spaced repetition plugins out there. But I’ve also been trying to figure out some ways to integrate e.g. foreign language texts into this process.
The only caveat I’d say for what you’re talking about is the use of AI. I have major qualms about AI use in a lot of situations, and I would be really wary of it in a language learning context. While it can provide reasonable translations, it is still nowhere close to being as good as a person. More importantly, you would have no idea if it’s hallucinated a translation. It is also iffy when it comes to contextual usage of a word, and one of the benefits of reading texts in a new language is specifically learning how that word is used.
But with that exception, I think you have some really good ideas for how this could work. I’m a self-taught coder but think I know enough to at least start laying the groundwork for such a plugin, and also know enough to ask others the right questions to sort it out. I also have experience with studying languages both via classroom, with a tutor outside of an academic setting, and entirely on my own. I’ve worked on modern and ancient (i.e. no-longer-spoken) languages both.
If you’re still interested, drop me a line! I’d definitely like to work on something like this.